Twitter users demand transparency over PM-Cares fund, Ventilators as #PMVentilatorScam goes trending
New Delhi: Amidst the growing number of Coronavirus cases in the country, the Narendra Modi led BJP government is under public scrutiny over the alleged scam in the purchasing of ventilators.
On Monday, afternoon, social media users took to Twitter to express their views on the matter, and soon the hashtag #PMVentilatorScam was among the top trending hashtags on Twitter India. The topic was among the top three trending topics on the micro-blogging site at 6:00 pm on Monday.
The users also questioned the government’s decision to not provide the audit of the PM-Cares fund and demanded that transparency should be maintained over the funds collected by the people.
The campaign comes on the back of the claims of scam made by noted activist Saket Gokhale alleging that there was a scam by the government in the purchasing of the ventilators during the COVID-19 crisis in the country.
Opposition party Congress also soon joined the campaign and posted several questions and claims on the alleged scam. It also demanded that the Prime Minister to come out and clarify to the people of the country as the money collected from them has been allegedly misused and scammed.
Here are some of the tweets posted with the hashtag.
NOTE: The claims made in the tweets embedded below or the ideas presented in them are those solely of the users. Vartha Bharati does not guarantee the authenticity of any of the claims or does not necessarily endorse the ideas, views posted by any of the users.
On 20 Jun, I wrote about how PM CARES claimed to spend 4 lakhs on 1 ventilator that costs between 1-2 lacs.
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) July 6, 2020
AgVa claims it’s ventilator is 1.5 lacs.
Developer of BEL-Skanray ventilators says price is less than 1 lac.
Where’s the remaining 1500+ crores going?#PMVentilatorScam https://t.co/BzkvwcznYw
On 31 Mar, Modi govt ordered 40K ventilators (30K from BEL-Skanray & 10K from AgVa).
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) July 6, 2020
On 23 Jun, PM CARES claims to have placed a similar order (30K BEL-Skanray & 10K AgVa).
Are these 2 separate orders or is PM CARES passing off the govt's order as its own?#PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/A0HL8qsylz
PM-Cares is not BJP's private fund, it is money collected from the public and should be subject to all levels of transparency.#PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/Y56DEPNLka
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 6, 2020
The government must answer these four pertinent questions regarding AgVa aka 'PMCares' ventilators. #PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/Kr9A407Whj
— Saral Patel (@SaralPatel) July 6, 2020
Credit to @SaketGokhale for unearthing another scam.
— Spirit of Congress (@SpiritOfCongres) July 6, 2020
Look how shamelessly govt is playing with the people's lives to make few people rich.#PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/w5M4KuiGfI
As the country faces one of the greatest human tragedies of our times, the BJP continues doing what it does the best, Scamming people and benefiting their cronies. - This time through PM Cares Fund. ?#PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/j2BdkYRDaw
— Sneha (@sneha2986) July 6, 2020
Will the govt care to explain? #PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/Tx7Uq94XtR
— Hasiba Amin ? (@HasibaAmin) July 6, 2020
Ventilators give life support to people . @BJP4India has snatched away the right to live of those affected with corona.
— Jeenal Gala (@JeenalGala) July 6, 2020
They did not even think once before playing with the lives of their own people . #PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/9DdyCZ85xC
Q: Why Government is quoting 1.5 Lakh₹ Ventilator at 4 lakh ₹ ?
— Aditya Ojha (@adityaojha075) July 6, 2020
A: Bihar Elections.
#PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/mLNamfrMxV
PM Cares is the most secret, opaque fund ever!
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) July 6, 2020
BJP is surely using the fund for
?Buying MLAs
?Buying Fake Ventilators
?Buying more ppl in Media
?Buying more BJP IT cell trolls
Can Modi say why RTI isn't applicable for PM Cares?
PM Cares is not Modi's FD#PMVentilatorScam
The Ventilator scam raises so many qs. Why did the Govt pay extra 2.5 lakhs per ventilator? Was there an open bidding how was d supplier selected? PM fund was allocated for 50K units order was for 40K units! Shameless Govt minting money during COVID crises #PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/Fa8PE5XAkB
— Priyamwada Thakur (@PriaINC) July 6, 2020
Overpriced & substandard PM Cares ventilators that endanger lives, are lying unused in a warehouse. #PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/i5GOFR2PIi
— Geet V (@geetv79) July 6, 2020
#PMVentilatorScam
— Rahul Mukherji (@RahulMukherji5) July 6, 2020
There is an opportunity in every crisis and the deeper the crisis, the better the opportunity can be.
Guess who took it in the literal sense? pic.twitter.com/accS7eGvsF
Why is Modi Government compromising the health of lakhs of patients with sub standard ventilators at such a critical time?#PMVentilatorScam pic.twitter.com/HIaNIrKOHv
— All India Mahila Congress (@MahilaCongress) July 6, 2020
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Allu Arjun didn't leave theatre despite being told about woman's death: Hyderabad police
Hyderabad, Dec 22: Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun did not leave the theatre during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' on December 4 despite being told to do so in view of a stampede in which a woman died, police officials claimed on on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference on the annual round-up of 2024, city police commissioner C V Anand showed a video, made by police, on the situation that prevailed when the stampede occurred.
The video was made by collating footage, including from news channels and cell phone clips. It suggests the actor remained in the theatre till the midnight.
Anand did not make any comment on the video, but said the media can draw its own conclusions.
A police official talked about the sequence of events on the fateful night of December 4.
He said that he and other police officials informed a manager of Allu Arjun about the death of the woman and told him that the situation was out of control. He indicated that they were not allowed to meet the actor.
Allu Arjun's staff members told them that they would convey the matter to the actor but did not do so, he said.
The official said he later managed to reach the actor, told him about the woman's death and asked him to leave the theatre so that the fans don't harm each other while trying to catch a glimpse of him.
The official also told the actor that security arrangements would be made for his exit.
However, the actor said he would go only after watching the film, the police official said.
Later, accompanied by a senior officer, the official went inside and brought the actor out, he said.
Amid allegations that bouncers hired by Allu Arjun pushed crowds as well as policemen when the stampede occurred at the cinema hall, the police commissioner warned that stringent action as per law would be taken if THE bouncers indeed misbehaved with the police on duty.
The VIPs would be made responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers hired by them, he said.
Asked if the police would appeal against the interim bail granted to Allu Arjun, the commissioner refused to give a direct response, just saying it is part of the investigation.
What course of action is taken would be known in the days to come, he said.
He also declined to comment when asked if the family of the deceased told him about Allu Arjun's team or film production team allegedly threatening them not to speak on the issue.
Meanwhile, state Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy found fault with Allu Arjun responding on Saturday to the debate in the Legislative Assembly.
The minister, who observed that the actor should have respect for the government and the chief minister, demanded an apology from Allu Arjun to the government and the CM.
"This government is never vindictive. As Cinematography Minister, we allowed benefit shows and hiking ticket prices to promote the film industry," he said.
However, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with CM Revanth Reddy for his comments on Allu Arjun in the Assembly on Saturday.
The comments of the CM sounded like character assassination of Allu Arjun and hurting the Telugu film industry, he alleged in a statement.
Later in the day, Sanjay Kumar visited a boy who is undergoing treatment in a hospital after being injured in the stampede.
"Consoled his father over the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Revathi. I pray to god that Sritej recovers at the earliest. Assured support to the family in this difficult time," Kumar said on X.
Earlier in the day, state DGP Jitender told reporters in Karimnagar district that film personalities and all others should understand that safety and security of citizens is utmost important, and also conduct themselves accordingly.
